80 300 td wagon Turn signals suddenly died
 

Aloha all

I have an older style 300 td wagon and the turn signals suddenly stopped working. Does anybod know if these have a turn signal relay seperate from the flasher relay in the warning light switch on the console?

If so, where is it?

The flashers all work so I infer that the wiring to the lights and the bulbs are all functional and when I pulled the plug to the flasher relay I was able to energize a wire that made the turn signal lights on each side ( and dash ) go on when you move the turn signal lever But the wouldn't flash....

any information or suggestions would be appreciated.

And as always we are looking for a skilled 123 mechanic who would like to come and vacation on Molokai in Hawaii and stay in our guest apartment in barter exchange for doing some maintenance on our wagons ( and teaching me stuff in the process...)

With Aloha

Levie Yamazaki-Gray,

Molokai Hawaii

Turn the emergency flasher switch on and off about 20 times and then check that problem off the to-do list.

PaulM

How are ya?...how are ya?

Hawaii...salt air...corrosion.

Go to Walmart and buy a can of Electrical cleaner. Insert the red tube into the
turn signal stem opening into the side of the steering whell and spray away whilst moving the turn signal lever up and down. Do it a lot and hopefully the contacts will clear up. I did this one to my high beam switches and saved a ton of money...let me know.

Aloha!

In 80, the flasher was still integrated into the emergency flasher with the big 2" button in the center console, no?
If so, and the above don't fix ya up... I've got one for sale...

Aloha All

Thanks for all the feedback. Lets see, Yes it is the large 2" lighted push button switch. But I think I ruled that out when I swapped it with a similar one from my 81 and still had the same symptoms.

Because the lights would work when the turn signal switch was turned R or L when I hotwired the muddle socket at the emergency flasher plug in I also thing that I have ruled out fouled contacts on the switch itself....

Any other ideas? I will try pushing the button in and out rapidly a bunch of times in case that resets some other logic but I am doubtful about that.

What else am I missing? Are you saying that there is not a seperate relay for the turn signals?

With Aloha

Levie

Correct. In the cars with the large flasher button, it is also the turn signal relay... And it's not available at all anymore.

Have you pulled and inspected all the fuses in the box?

It is possible it could also be a ground issue...

Where would the turn signal circuit ground? Esp since all the lights work in flasher mode....

Where would the turn signal circuit ground? Esp since all the lights work in flasher mode....

Unfortunately I am not sure on a wagon. I know there is one behind the passenger headlight.

I can't ever remember having a issue with the turn signals on my three wagons. Since the hazards work then the next thing to check proper operation is the turn signal stalk; at least that's what I would do since I don't know the solution. How to check proper operation? um .......... idk. The spray some contact cleaner and exercise it sounds like a good start. I don't think it could hurt anything.

I think we can rule out the 'stalk' b/c when I separated the plug from the flasher relay and energized one of the middle wires, the dash indicators and turn signals would go on for the corresponding side when I moved the turn signal 'stalk' either r or l. - they just wouldn't flash..

Am considering an exorcism because I am now having electrical gremlins in three of my wagons.... Any 300 td shamen ever done this kind of purge?

Got your PM.

Replying to your thread for the benefit of all.

Here is the wiring diagram for your car:
http://www.startekinfo.com/StarTek/outside/12265/disc_2/program/ETM/80_300.pdf

The flashing controller is inside the button. Not separate like it is in later 123s.

Now if you lost your ground at the flasher connector that would explain why you can jump out the connector and get the lights to come on, but two different flasher relays won't work. The flashing controller needs ground to function.

Given where you live...
and have more than one giving you problems.....
go to your fuse boxes...and pull out each fuse... one at a time...and clean them...
small brass brush will work well....

I agree
 

However, living in Michigan SALT, it is common for the ground wire by each light assembly to corrode/break.
Bulb and wire terminal corrosion has forced me to replace a huge number of sockets or wire pins to restore function.

------------------------------------------------

NEVER cut/splice into the horn, wiper, exterior lighting or turn signal relay ground for after market accessories = this is a safety issue.

Then there are after market accessory installers who cut/splice into any handy ground, ignoring manufacturer directions that require a dedicated ground wire to the body metal - battery..

This often causes later issues:

#1. Sudden loss of function.

#2. Erratic - Random function.

#3. Fast/slow or weak pulse flasher.

#4. Circuit ground back feed.

#5. Melted wire or in rare worst case scenarios, a FIRE due to over load.

#6. Headache and cursing.

.

I recall this happend to my 80 wagon about 10 yrs ago. I checked the fuse several times before finding the hairline crack. Also clean the fuse holder contacts. I believe the 4 ways worked just not the turn signals but I am uncertain due to memory.

Good point, there are 2 feeds on different fuses to the relay.

One is switched for the turn signals, and the other unswitched for the 4-ways.

Be sure both (really you ought to check that all) fuses are good. Remove them and inspect them. I had one that had a micro crack right at the bend. Looked great but as soon as I pulled it the strip fell apart in my hand.

If you find any corrosion on the fuse tabs, do not abrade them with anything. This will destroy the plating and make the situation worse. Use some Tarn-X or silver polish on a q-tip.

So what's up with your blinkers? Are they functional again? I am pulling for the repeated on/off of the flashers to clear up the "congestion".

A common pencil eraser is great for cleaning electrical contacts non abrasive and leaves them with a a nice shine . Sand paper is the worst gouges the contacts may work but will not last as long and degrades the contacts.

still at a loss...
 

Any idea where the flasher switch grounds on the 80 300 td wagon? I have checked all of the body grounds that I could find but it seems like it that were the problem, all of the lights wouldn't work when I hotwire 12v current to one of the wires connected to the flasher switch ( they all work- and at the command of the turn signal switch on the steering column.

I guess your post is a vote against my next idea was to wire a flasher relay directly into this new circuit that I temporarily created - as a work-around to the problem. I am getting desperate....